Page 29 of His Baby Her Gift

Elaina looked like a wide-eyed innocent. “I was invited by your mother, Carter.”

“Let me rephrase.” His jaw clenched. “The next time you show up at my house uninvited, you will be left standing outside.”

Elaina tilted her head to the side. “C’mon, now. You wouldn’t leave the mother of your child in the cold.”

It was her trump card, and clearly, Elaina planned to use it. Harlem had had enough of Elaina’s shenanigans, and she needed to put Elaina in her place.

She was Carter’s woman, and as such, Harlem refused to give Elaina the upper hand.Hishome could conceivably be consideredherhouse.Treat the witch as a guest.“Well, this is . . . awkward.” Harlem acknowledged the elephant in the room and then moved about the kitchen as if she owned it. “Why don’t I make us all some coffee?”I should put rat poison in Elaina’s shit, but I don’t know Carter’s mother well enough. She might snitch.

Harlem’s reaction was not at all what Carter expected. As she walked past him, she caught his hand in hers and gently squeezed. It was her signal that they were a team. It had only been a few hours since Harlem had committed to their relationship. She wouldn’t allow Elaina or Charlotte to divide them. However, Harlem had to admit, Carter wasn’t lying when he said Elaina would be a pain in his ass for the rest of his life. She had already started, and the baby wasn’t even here.

He was worth it. Harlem was not going to run away when things got hard, and this was a challenging moment.

Carter slid his hands up to Harlem’s rapidly expanding middle and pulled her close before planting a long and lingering kiss against her lips. It was his version ofthank youand a clear statement as to who he was in a relationship with.

Elaina was fit to be tied. She was watching all of her hard work go up in flames.

“Carter?” His mother called out to him. “Do you think I can have a word with you in private?”

And leave Elaina and Harlem alone–in the same room? Oh hell, no.He was about to say as much when Harlem pulled away and started walking over to the coffee maker.

“We’ll be fine. Plus, that will give Elaina and me a moment tochat.”

That was not a good idea. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” Harlem said sweetly as she turned eyes that could cut ice over to Elaina.

“I’m sure the ladies will be fine.” Charlotte agreed. “Please, I just need a moment.” She pleaded with him.

Carter looked around the room at each of the women.How the hell did I get caught up like this?Carter was nervous about what his absence might mean. Harlem said she could handle it, but Elaina? Could she? Something was not clicking on all cylinders with her. Hell, Carter wasn’t sure if he wanted to be alone with her. Still, after taking another moment to consider his mother’s request, Carter figured the quickest way to get everyone out of his house was to speak with her. He nodded. “Follow me.”

*****

Carter directed his mother to his library. They went inside, and he closed the door. Carter got right to the point. “You wanted to talk–talk.”

Charlotte glanced around the room. “You have a beautiful home. It’s a shame I’ve never seen it before.” She planned to take her sweet time.

“If it’s not money, what do you want?” Carter asked again more calmly than he actually felt.

“First, I would like for you to stop looking at me like that! I brought you into this world, and I deserve some level of respect.” Charlotte said.

That’s truly all you did.Carter kept his thoughts to himself.

“And my God, are both of those women pregnant? At the same damn time?” She asked in disbelief. “Clearly, you’re dating the black one. So, why would you go out and get a white one that looks just like her?!”

If Charlotte were anyone else on the planet, her words might have meant something. But she wasn’t. “I’m not discussing my personal life with you, Charlotte. For the last time, what do you want?”

“For the life of me, I don’t understand your attitude.”

Carter’s lips tightened. “You don’t understand?”

“No! I don’t. I made sure you had the best of everything. You had the best nannies, went to the best schools, and lived in the best neighborhoods,” she beat her chest with the palm of her hand. “I made sure that you were well taken care of at great personal sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice?”

“Yes! Sacrifice. I stayed with your philandering father just to make sure that you never wanted for anything.”

“Let’s not get it twisted. You stayed with Doug because of the lifestyle he gave you. I’m not interested in a walk down memory lane. Again, what do you want?”

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